Wagon-coupling



Patented Oct. 25, I898.

W. D. BOETTLER.

WAGON COUPLING.

(Application flied. Oct. 11, 1897.

(No modem UNITED STATES \VILLIAM D. BOETTLER,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF OLDEN, MISSOURI.

WAGON-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,814, dated October25, 1898.

Application filed October 11, 1897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,WILLIAM D. BOETTLER, of Olden, Howell county,Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVVagon-Oouplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart thereof.

My invention relates to wagons, and more especially to Wagon-couplings;and my object is to dispense with the axle-hounds, circleiron,tongue-hounds, and other parts or fixtures and connect the tonguedirectly to the axle, and thereby reduce the weight without diminishingthe strength or durability of the wagon or axle.

With this object in view the invention consists in certain novel andpeculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, as Will behereinafter described and claimed.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, I will proceed todescribe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 represents a plan view of the run ning-gear of a wagonembodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a plan view of a portion ofthe front part of the same, the bolster, however, being omitted. Fig. 3is a side View of the same, and Fig. 4 a plan view of the clamp-plate atthe under side of the axle.

In the said drawings, 1 designates the rear bolster, 2 the longitudinalreach, and 3 the reach-hounds. These parts are of the usual or anypreferred type.

4 designates a barwhich is bolted to and projects forwardly from thefront end of the reach.

5 designates a plate bolted to the under side of the front end of thereach, which projects downward and forward, as shown at 6, so as toleave considerable space between the superposed front ends of saidplates. The pivotbolt 7 extends down through said plates, and mountedthereon and also interposed between the plates is an elongated washer orsleeve 8, which forms at the same time an extended bearing andprotection for the bolt and a brace for said bars.

9 designates the axle-bed, and 10 the axle below.

The fifth-wheel 11 is mounted upon the axle Serial No. 654,798. (Nomodel.)

bed and rests rearward of the same upon the bar 4. A cross-bar 12, whichpreferably is formed integral with said fifth-wheel, as shown, restsupon the axle-bed and is provided with a rearwardly-projectinghorizontal ear 13, overlapping the front end of the bar 4, and throughsaid ear the pivot-bolt 7 also extends. At opposite sides of its centersaid cross-bar-is formed with parallel grooves or depressions 14, inwhich fit snugly the bridge portions of a pair of clips 15, the legs ofwhich extend vertically downward and embrace snugly the. opposite sidesof the axlebed and axle. A clamp-plate 16 is arranged at the under sideof the axle, and said cliplegs extend down through the ears 17 of saidplate and are engaged by clamping-nuts 18. Said plate is also providedwith the rearwardly and forwardly projecting ears 19 and 20 at itsmiddle, and through the former extends the pivot-bolt 7, hereinbeforereferred to, and engaging it is a clamping-nut 21, so as to provide apivotal but strong and durable connection between the front end of thereach and the front axle.

22 designates a Z-shaped bracket which is bolted at its lower end uponthe front ear 20 of the plate 16 and at its upper end to the under sideof the fifth-wheel in longitudinal alinement with the center of theaxle, so as to provide a strong and reliable support for the front halfof the fifth-Wheel.

23 designates the front bolster, of the customary construction andarrangement, and 24: the king-bolt carried by the axle, upon which thebolster is mounted in the customary man ner. This bolster, in lieu ofthe circle-iron, is reinforced at its under side by the thin wearplate25, which frictionally bears upon'the fifth-wheel and protects thebolster from un due wear.

26 designates the tongue, and 27 brace-bars which connect it directlywith the front axle, so as to make a cheap, light, and strongconnection.

It will be noticed by reference to Fig. 1 that the pivot 7 of thefifth-wheel is in longitudinal alinement with the centers of the frontand rear axles as the vehicle moves straight forward, but that in makinga turn the joint is broken by throwing the said pivot out of alinementwith the front and rear axles, the

ICO

parts assuming approximately the position shown in dotted lines. Duringthis movement it will be noticed that the rear truck of the vehicle willswing a little, as indicated by dotted lines, but not enough to strainor inj ure the vehicle in the slightest degree. Vehicles of course canbe built with the connection at the rear end sufficiently loose toprovide for this slight change of relation of the parts as the wagonmakes a turn.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced aconstruction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated in thestatement of invention, and it is to be understood,of course,thatchanges which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope ofthe same I reserve the right to make.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- A wagon-coupling, comprising an axle-bed,

the axle below the same, a fifth-wheel upon the axle-bed and providedwith a cross-bar 12, having an ear 13, and a pair of grooves 14, aclamp-plate below the axle, clips 15, engaging said grooves 14, andprojecting through the clamp-plate, nuts engaging the ends of theclips,a Z-shaped bracket connecting the fifthwheel and the clamp-plateat the front side of the axle, the reach 2, the bars 4 and 6, projectingtherefrom and fitting between the ear 13, and the clamp-plate, apivot-bolt connecting the said ear, the clamp-plate and bars 4 and 6,and a washer or sleeve mounted on said bolt and bearing at its endsagainst said bars, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM D. BOETTLER. WVitnesses:

' O. H. OoTTNAM, O. OLIN RICE.

